Ramal is a 5-month-old baby from Kenya and the only child in his family. His parents separated before he was born. Ramal lives with his mother and great-grandparents. Ramal’s great-grandmother works jobs on people’s farms to earn a living, while his mother does laundry and also works casual jobs to provide for the family. Ramal’s family does not have NHIF coverage and needs assistance raising the required amount for Ramal’s hospital bills. Ramal was born two months early at seven months of pregnancy and was admitted to the nursery for two months. While in the nursery, the doctors noticed his head increasing in size, and upon close examination, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. When he was discharged, the doctors referred the family to another hospital in their home county for treatment. His mother gathered some funds and took him to the hospital, where he was booked for clinics and waited for surgery. This continued for a few months until a doctor referred them to our medical partner’s care center for treatment. Once arrived, an urgent shunt insertion surgery was scheduled. Ramal has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result, Ramal has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Ramal will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Ramal to treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 15th and will drain the excess fluid from Ramal’s brain, thus reducing intracranial pressure and greatly improving his quality of life. With proper treatment, Ramal will develop into a strong, healthy young boy as he grows. Ramal’s mother said, “This condition is something that we have never seen before. This made us worried for Ramal’s health.”

Yany is an 18-year-old student--her parents are both rice farmers in Sihanouk province, where they live with her four other siblings. She shares her home with her three brothers and one sister who also attend school and support the family rice crops. As the oldest daughter, she helps her mother keep the house clean and cook for the family when she is not in school. In August 2020, Yany was involved in a motorbike accident that resulted in a fractured right femur. Her parents took her to a local hospital, where she underwent a procedure to implant hardware to facilitate the healing process. Her bone has healed well and she now needs the hardware removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 2nd, Yany will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This will allow her to continue to strengthen her leg and focus on her studies. Yany said: "I hope after surgery, my leg will heal well, and I will have no pain any more."

Thin is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She resides in a village in Myawaddy Township which is in Karen State on the border of Burma and Thailand. She lives with her mother and elder brother. She is a fourth grader but due to her health deteriorating, she stopped attending school one month ago. Thin enjoys dancing and watching Burmese traditional dance videos whenever she has free time. In 2019, Thin began to experience troubling symptoms, including dull pain on the right side of her abdomen accompanied by occasional vomiting, fever, and other worrying symptoms. Following an MRI scan, the doctor diagnosed her with multiple cysts and a common bile duct (CBD) obstruction. Thin has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Thin is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on February 13th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Thin's procedure and care. Thin said, "I am working hard to excel in my studies and regain my health. Once I am back on my feet, I aspire to become a schoolteacher."